Military unit
The Red Sea Station was a military formation of the Royal Navy . At various times it has also been referred to as Egypt Division and Red Sea and later the Red Sea and Canal Area. The Royal Navy had distinct formations for the Red Sea at intervals from 1846 until circa 1944-45.
The Royal Navy established a Red Sea formation as early as 1846, administered by the Royal Indian Navy .[ 1] [ 2] Commander-in-Chief, East Indies until 1883, when it became part of the Mediterranean Fleet . In 1914 the station came under command of the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Fleet until the end of the war. Following the war the Red Sea was reabsorbed back under the Commander-in-Chief, East Indies .
During the East African Campaign , the Red Sea Force fought the Italians. British code-breakers of the Government Code and Cypher School (GC&CS) at Bletchley Park in the UK, deciphered Italian orders of 19 May 1940, coded using C38m machines, secretly to mobilise the army and air force in East Africa. Merchant traffic was stopped by the British on 24 May, pending the introduction of a convoy system. The Senior Naval Officer Red Sea, Rear-Admiral Murray, operational at Aden since April with the light cruisers HMS Liverpool and HMAS Hobart (Liverpool was replaced by HMS Leander ), was reinforced by the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Carlisle , which sailed south with Convoy BS 4, the 28th Destroyer Flotilla comprising HMS Khartoum , Kimberley , Kingston Kandahar Operation Begum ), attack the Red Sea Flotilla and protect the sea lanes from Aden to Suez.
On 21 October 1941 the Mediterranean Fleet 's responsibilities were extended to include the Red Sea and Aden, including the Gulf of Aden. The Mediterranean Fleet thus took over the Red Sea Division of the Red Sea Station, which was located between the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal , excluding Suez Port .[ 4] [ 4]
Over a hundred kilometres to the north, halfway up the Suez Canal, the Senior British Naval Officer, Suez Canal Area , based at Ismailia , remained responsible for all British naval policy questions in regards to the Suez Canal Company .[ 4]
In January 1944 the station was transferred back from the Mediterranean Fleet to C-in-C East Indies.
[ edit ] Incomplete list of post holders included:
Rank
Flag
Name
Term
Notes/Ref
Commodore Commanding, Red Sea Division
1
Commodore
Robert H. More-Molyneux 1884 - 1885
later Admiral
[ edit ] Post holders included:
Note:Command is also known as Egypt Division and Red Sea.
Rank
Flag
Name
Term
Notes/Ref
Rear-Admiral, Egypt and Red Sea
1
Rear Admiral
Thomas Jackson 6 July 1917 – 28 December 1918
[ 6]
2
Rear Admiral
Henry B. Pelly 24 December 1918 – March, 1920
[ 7]
[ edit ] Incomplete list of post holders included:
Rank
Flag
Name
Term
Notes/Ref
Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea Patrol [ 8]
1
Captain
William H. D. Boyle March 1916 – December 1918
[ 9]
[ edit ] [ edit ] Incomplete list of post holders included:
Rank
Insig
Name
Term
Notes/Ref
Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea
1
Captain
John Campbell Annesley
2 June 1939 to 19 January 1940
[ 12]
2
Captain
H. E. Horan
19 January 1940 to 29 June 1940
[ 13]
[ edit ]
Rank
Flag
Name
Term
Flag Officer Commanding, Red Sea
1
Rear-Admiral
Ronald H. C. Hallifax 21 October 1941 to 17 May 1942 [ 14]
[ edit ] Included:
Rank
Flag
Name
Term
Notes/Ref
Senior Naval Officer in Charge, Suez
1
Commodore
Charles A. A. Larcom
14 November 1941 – 13 May 1942
[ edit ] Commodore Young-Jamieson's broad pennant was seemingly borne in HMS Stag (shore establishment) , which was the name used for the base for British naval personnel in Egypt . First established at Port Said , it was commissioned on 8 January 1940. There were outposts at Adabya, Kabrit, Ismailia, Generiffa, Port Tewfik. HMS Stag was paid off in May 1949.
HMS Euphrates at Basra seemingly reported to Flag Officer, Red Sea and Canal Area, from its establishment in 1942.
^ Allen's Indian Mail and Register of Intelligence, for British and Foreign and India and China and all parts of the East ^ Low, Charles Rathbone (1877). History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863) 192 . commodore and senior naval officer, Red Sea and Aden. ^ a b c Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.II: November 1940-December 1941 ISBN 9781136341274 ^ Watson, Graham E. (5 February 2001). "RN Flag Officers, 1914-1918 based on various Navy Lists" . www.gwpda.org . Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (27 August 2018). "Egypt - The Dreadnought Project" . www.dreadnoughtproject.org . Harley and Lovell. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Archives, The National. "To Senior Naval Officer, Red Sea Patrol. Requesting on behalf of Sherif Faisal passage" . discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk . London, England: The National Archives, JOYCE/1/112. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Stewart, William (2009). Admirals of the world: a biographical dictionary, 1500 to the present ISBN 9780786482887 ^ Kindell, Don (14 March 2012). "Admiralty War Diaries: Loss of HMS Khartoum, June 1940" . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Kindell, Don (14 March 2012). "Admiralty War Diaries: Loss of HMS Khartoum, June 1940" . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Houterman, J.N. "Royal Navy (RN) Officers 1939-1945 - A" . www.unithistories.com . Houterman and Koppes. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ Kindell, Don (14 March 2012). "Admiralty War Diaries: Loss of HMS Khartoum, June 1940" . www.naval-history.net . Gordon Smith. Retrieved 28 September 2018 . ^ a b c The Navy List . London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. December 1942. p. 1340.^ The Navy List . London, England: H. M. Stationery Office. November 1944. p. 2264.
Allen's Indian Mail and Register of Intelligence, for British and Foreign and India and China and all parts of the East. London, England: W. H. Allen and Company. 1846.
Brown, David (2013). The Royal Navy and the Mediterranean: Vol.II: November 1940-December 1941. Cambridge, England: Routledge. ISBN 9781136341274 .
Harley, Simon; Lovell, Tony (2018). "Egypt - The Dreadnought Project". www.dreadnoughtproject.org. Harley and Lovell.
Houterman, Jerome N..; Koppes, Jeroen (2004–2006). "Royal Navy, Mediterranean Fleet 1939-1945". www.unithistories.com. Houterman and Koppes, Netherlands.
Kindell, Don (2012). "Admiralty War Diaries: Loss of HMS Khartoum, June 1940". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
Low, Charles Rathbone (1877). History of the Indian Navy: (1613-1863) . London, England: R. Bentley and Son.O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). "Ch 6: The Red Sea, 1940–41". Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater, 1940–1945 . London: Conway. pp. 99– 107. ISBN 978-1-84486-102-6 Raugh, Harold E. Jr. (2008). British Military Operations in Egypt and the Sudan: A Selected Bibliography ISBN 9781461657002 Watson, Dr Graham. (2015) "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945". naval-history.net. Gordon Smith.
Direction and control Boards and offices under Direction of Secretariat and staff under Operational planning, policy Divisions and sections Offices of the Sea Lords Admiralty civil departments
Admiralty Area Cash Offices Admiralty Central Dockyard Laboratory Admiralty Central Metallurgical Laboratory Admiralty Civilian Shore Wireless Service Admiralty Compass Observatory Admiralty Constabulary Admiralty Constabulary Headquarters Admiralty Engineering Laboratory Admiralty Experimental Station Admiralty Experiment Works Admiralty Gunnery Establishment Admiralty Interview Board Admiralty Labour Department Admiralty Marine Technology Establishment Admiralty Materials Laboratory Admiralty Mine Design Department Admiralty Mining Establishment Admiralty Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory Admiralty Record Office Admiralty Regional Offices Admiralty Research Laboratory Admiralty Signal Establishment Admiralty Signals and Radar Establishment Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment Admiralty Surveying Service Admiralty Torpedo Experimental Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Establishment Admiralty Underwater Weapons Launching Establishment Architectural and Engineering Works Department Air Equipment and Naval Photography Department Air Department Air Materiel Department Air Personnel Department Amphibious Warfare Headquarters Armament Supply Department Board of Invention and Research Board of Longitude Boom Defence Department Boom Defence and Marine Salvage Department Britannia Royal Naval College Chemical Board Chemical Department Civil Catering Department Civil Engineer in Chiefs Department Coastguard and Reserves Branch Combined Operations Headquarters Commissioner for Property and Income-tax for the Naval Department Compass Department Contract and Purchase Department Council of Naval Education Dental Examining Board Department of Radio Equipment Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy Department of Aeronautical and Engineering Research Department of Miscellaneous Weapons Development Department of Naval Assistant (Foreign) to Second Sea Lord Department of Naval Education Operational Research Department of Personal Services and Officer Appointments Department of Physical Research Department of Physical Training & Sports Department of Radio Equipment Department of Research Programmes and Planning Department of Superintendent of de-magnetisation Department of the Admiral of the Training Service Department of the Chief Inspector of Naval Ordnance Department of the Chief of Naval Information Department of the Chief Scientist Department of the Civil Engineer-in-Chief Department of the Comptroller of Steam Machinery Department of the Comptroller of Victualling and Transport Services Department of the Controller of the Navy Department of the Controller-General of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Controller for Navy Pay Department of the Deputy Controller for Auxiliary Shipbuilding Department of the Deputy Controller for Dockyards and Shipbuilding Department of the Director Contract-Built Ships Department of the Director-General Aircraft Department of the Director-General of Manpower Department of the Director-General, Supply and Secretariat Branch Department of the Director of Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Department of the Director of Contract Labour Department of the Director of Dockyards Department of the Director of Electrical Engineering Department of the Director of Manning Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding Department of the Director of Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Department of the Director of Merchant Ship Repairs Department of the Director of Naval Construction Department of the Director of Naval Equipment Department of the Director of Naval Recruiting Department of the Director of Naval Weather Service Department of the Director of Personal Services Department of the Director of Physical Training and Sports Department of the Director of Torpedoes and Mining Department of the Director of Transports Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Department of the Director of Underwater Weapons Materials Department of the Director of Unexploded Bombs Department of the Director of Warship Production Department of the Director of Welfare and Service Conditions Department of the Director of Wreck Dispersal Department of the Flag Officer Sea Training Department of the Engineer in Chief Department of the Paymaster Director-General Department of the Inspector of Anti-Aircraft Weapons Department of the Inspector of Dockyard Expense Accounts Department of the Inspector-General of Naval Hospitals and Fleets Department of the Medical Director-General of the Navy Department of the Physician of the Navy Department of the Physician General of the Navy Department of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy Department of the Surveyor of Buildings Department of the Surveyor of Dockyards Directorate-General, (Naval Manpower and Training) Directorate General Training Dockyards and Fleet Maintenance Department Dockyards Branch Dockyard Expense Accounts Department Dockyard Schools Electrical Engineering Department Engineer Branch Engineering Department Experimental Department Fire Control Group Greenwich Hospital Department Inspector of Telegraphs Inspector of Repairs Joint Warfare Establishment Medical Consultative Board Medical Examining Board Historical Section Hydrographic Department Marine Department Marine Pay Department Materials and Priority Department Medical Consultative Board Medical Department Medical Examining Board Movements Department Nautical Almanac Office Naval Artillery and Torpedo Department Naval Engineering College Naval Equipment Department Naval Historical Branch Naval Construction Department Naval Intelligence Department Naval Medical Service Naval Law Division Naval Manpower Department Naval Mobilisation Department Naval Ordnance Department Naval Ordnance Inspection Department Naval Ordnance Stores Department Naval Personnel Services and Officer Appointments Department Naval Publicity Department Naval Regional Offices Naval Reserve Department Naval Security Department Naval Stores Department Naval Training Department Naval Works Department Navy, Army and Air Force Institute Navy and Army Canteen Board Navy Works Department Navigation Department Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope Office of the Admiral Commanding Coast Guard and Reserves Office of the Admiral Commanding, Reserves Office of the Admiralty Chemist Office of the Adviser on the Naval Construction to the Board of Admiralty Office of the Assistant Controller Office of the Assistant Controller Research and Development Office of the Clerk of the Journals Office of the Chief Polaris Executive Office of the Deputy Controller of Navy Office of the Deputy Controller Production Office of Extra Naval Assistant to Second Sea Lord Office of the Inspector Gun Mountings Office of the Keeper of Records Office of the Senior Psychologist (Naval) Office of the Senior Psychologist of the Navy Office of the Translator of French and Spanish Languages Office of the Vice Controller Air Office of the Vice Controller of the Navy Organisation and Methods Department Packet Service Regional Organisation for Merchant Shipbuilding and Repairs Royal Corps of Naval Constructors Royal Flying Corps Royal Marine Police Royal Marines Office Office of the Chaplain of the Fleet Royal Naval Academy Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops Royal Naval Air Service Royal Naval Air Stations Royal Naval Armaments Depot Royal Naval Auxiliary Service Royal Naval Cordite Factories Royal Naval Propellant Factory Royal Naval College Royal Naval College and the School for Naval Architecture Royal Naval College, Dartmouth Royal Naval College, Greenwich Royal Naval College, Keyham Royal Naval College, Osborne Royal Naval Engineering College Royal Naval Film Corporation Royal Naval Hospital Royal Naval Medical Depot Royal Naval Minewatching Service Royal Naval Mine Depot Royal Naval Patrol Service Royal Naval Scientific Service Royal Naval Sick Quarters Royal Naval Torpedo Depot Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal Naval War College Royal Naval War College, Portsmouth Royal Navy Dockyard Royal Navy Medical Service Royal Navy Shore Signal Service Royal Observatory, Greenwich Royal School of Naval Architecture Salvage Department School of Mathematics and Naval Construction Scientific Research and Experiment Department Sea Transport Branch Sea Transport Department Sea Transport Division Ship Department Ship Design Department Signal Department Signal School Sixpenny Office Statistics Department Steam Department Superintendent of De-magnetisation Torpedo Experimental Establishment Transport Department Undersurface Warfare Department Victualling Department Volunteer Boys and Cadet Corps Weapons Department Weapons Department (Naval) Women's Royal Naval Service Wireless Telegraphy Board Direction/Command of the Fleet Naval formations after 1707
1st Fleet 2nd Fleet 3rd Fleet Commander-in-Chief, Africa Atlantic Fleet Commodore, Arabian Seas and Persian Gulf Australia Station Cape of Good Hope Station Cape and West Africa Station Battle Cruiser Fleet Battle Cruiser Force Caspian Flotilla Channel Fleet Channel Squadron Commander-in-Chief, Coast of Ireland Cork Station Coast of Scotland Commander-in-Chief, China Commander-in-Chief, Dover Flag Officer, East Africa East Indies Station East Indies and China Station Eastern Fleet Far East Fleet English Channel Grand Fleet Flag Officer Gibraltar Harwich Force Home Fleet Jamaica Station Leith Station Commander-in-Chief, Levant Levant and East Mediterranean Commander-in-Chief, Leeward Islands Mediterranean Fleet Medway Newfoundland Station New Zealand Division New Zealand Naval Forces Nore North America and West Indies Station Commander-in-Chief, North Sea Admiral Commanding, Orkneys and Shetlands Pacific Fleet Pacific Station Admiral of Patrols Commander-in-Chief, Plymouth Commander-in-Chief, Portsmouth Queenstown Station Royal East African Navy Royal Indian Navy Flag Officer Submarines Commander-in-Chief, Rosyth Reserve Fleet Scotland and Northern Ireland Commander-in-Chief, South Atlantic South East Coast of America Station Commander-in-Chief, Thames and Medway West Africa Squadron Flag Officer, West Africa Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Naval formations before 1707 Direction of Naval Finance Departments under the Direction of Naval Administration Branches and offices under the Civil Administration Departments under the Legal
Historic fleets and naval commands of the
Royal Navy North and Irish Seas and English Channel Atlantic Ocean Baltic, Black, Caspian, and Mediterranean Seas Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean
